Transfer device



A riifi 3Q, 1935. o. F. SMETANA TRANSFER DEVICE Fild Aug. 17, 1954 s Sheet-Sheet 1- INVENTOR: Ofia fffimeiara, BY 5 Apr-i 3Q, 1935. 0. F. SMETANA 1,999,305

TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Aug. 17, 1934 5 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR: flfia imei'bma,

' ATTORN Y.

April 30,1935. o, F SMETANA wwwls TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Aug. 17, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN mtented A r. 30, 1935 PATENT orifice TRANSFER, DEVICE Otto F. Smetana, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a.

corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 1'7, 1934, Serial No. 740,239

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved transfer or topping device for knitting machines, and particularly to a transfer bar for topping stocking blanks, for example, pressed-off leg blanks, onto the needles of a legger knitting machine.

In knitting stocking blanks on a legger machine, it occasionally happens that breakage of the yarn occurs, or that the yarn package feeding the body yarn from which a leg blank is being knit becomes depleted, resulting in a press-off, which pressed-off portion of the blank is topped on the needles of a stationary bar in a topping machine, and then transferred to the topping points of a transfer bar by means of a knockover bit bar in a manner well known in the art.

When the pressed-0E blank is transferred from the points of the transfer bar to the needles of the legger machine for completion of the blank, the transfer bar must be held in the correct position for the loops to be transferred properly and to prevent dropped loops. has required a high degree of skill and judgment on the part of the topper or operator. Not only must the points of the transfer bar be correctly aligned with the proper needles in a coursewise direction so that the fabric loops will be topped on-t'nose needles to which the yarn will be fed in the next succeeding course, but also the elevation of the transfer bar relative to the needles must be accurately determined and maintained to cause the transfer, or toppin points to properly enter the needle grooves to avoid splitting or dropping the loops.

An object of the invention is to provide a transfer bar having means for quickly and accurately aligning the topping points with the proper needles, and by means of which the topping operation does not require a high degree of skill and judgment and may be performed by relatively inexperienced operators, notwithstanding that the probabilities of dropped or split loops are practically eliminated.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character stated, that does not require the addition of parts to the usual legger machine and thus does not complicate the machine;

A further object is to provide a transfer bar having suitable means for guiding and aligning the topping points of the bar with the needles of a knitting machine and for determining and maintaining a predetermined elevation of the points relative to the needles during the toppingon operation.

Another object is to provide a device of the Heretofore, this operation character described, which is simple in construction and can be made at a low cost, and which may readily be attached to conventional point bars for transferring fabric to the needles of a straight knitting machine.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown 'in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements of construction, devices and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a topping machine, having inserted therein a transfer bar constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, of certain parts of the topping machine and transfer bar;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the transfer bar, showing certain guiding and positioning elements thereof in inactive position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the guiding and positioning elements in active position for topping a stocking blank onto the needles of a legger;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing certain details of the guiding and positioning elements of the device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing other details of the guiding and positioning elements;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the guiding and positioning elements apart from the transfer bar;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing various elements of a knitting section of a legger machine, with the transfer bar in operative position for a topping operation; and

Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, illustrate successive positions of the transfer bar and knitting needles during the topping operation.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a topping machine 45 of conventional construction, having inserted therein a transfer bar for the purpose of transferring thereto a knitted stocking leg blank press-off which has previously been topped on the stationary needle bar of the topping machine, the blank being omitted in the drawings more clearly to show the various parts of the devices. The topping machine com= prises right and left end frames or stands 1'! and I8 mounted on a base it, the stands carrying at nalled in bearings 2|], the rock shaft having sea cured to the ends thereof and movable therewith transfer bar holders 22 having the ends 22a adapted to seat and align a transfer bar during the transfer operation. Pivotally connected at 26 to the stands is a swinging frame 21 which forms a supporting bed for the knockover bits 28, by means of which the transferring operation is effected. Secured to the end frames, as by cap screws, not shown, is a needle bar or bed 2| supporting a series of topping needles 24 (see Fig. 2) clamped to the needle bed by clamping plates 25.

Whenever a press-off occurs in knitting leg blanks on a stocking knitting machine, the pressed-01f portion of the blank is topped on the needles of a stationary bar 2| by a topper or operator, at which time the transfer bar holders 22 are raised, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, in order to facilitate the topping operation, in a manner Well known in the art. After the blank is topped on the topping needles, the transfer bar holders 22 are lowered to the position shown in the figures, and the ends of the transfer bar 3| inserted in the seating and guiding portions 220. of the holders which accurately align the points of the transfer bar with the proper topping needles. By moving the handle 29 forward, the swinging frame 21, carrying the knockover bits 28, is moved forwardly, thus stripping the fabric from the topping needles onto the transfer or toppng points 33 of the transfer bar, thereby to enable the fabric to be transferred to the needles of a knitting section of a legger.

A legger has no means for guiding the transfer bar relative to the needles of the machine, and heretofore in topping press-offs on the needles of the machine for completion of the leg blank, it has been necessary for the topper or operator to manually hold the transfer bar in the correct position, and at the proper elevation, during the topping-on operationa rather difficult feat. In accordance with the present invention, however, means are provided whereby the transfer bar 3| will be held in the correct position and maintained at the proper elevation relative to the needles, to insure that the transfer or topping points will properly enter the needle grooves, and avoid splitting or dropping the loops. 1

Figs. 3 to 7 show details of the transfer bar including means for positively maintaining the bar at the proper elevation during the topping operation. The bar comprises a transfer or topping bed 32 in which the points 33 are seated, the points being firmly held in position by means of a clamp bar 34 secured by screws 35 to the bed 32. Secured to the transfer bar bed are two members, each manually movable to active or inactive position, shown in the specific embodiment illustrated as arms 36 pivotally mounted at 3'! and manually rotatable into active and inactive positions, the arms each carrying at one end 3641 thereof a member or abutment 38 which, in the present instance, is detachably secured thereto by screws 39, altho, if desired, the member 38 or equivalent may be integral with its supporting member 36. i

In Fig. 3 the arms 36 and members 38 are shown in inactive position, whereby they do not interfere with the operation of the topping machine. After a leg blank has been transferred to the points 33 of the transfer bar, however, members 36 are manually rotated, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and turned .needles 52.

the upper ends thereof a rock shaft 9 jourto the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the members 38, provide aligning and guiding surfaces whenthe blank is topped on the needles of the knitting machine.

In order to maintain the arms 36 in either their active or inactive position, there is provided, in the form illustrated, a detent ball 4| seated in an apertured portion 42 of each arm 36, the ball 4| being biased inwardly, toward the topping point bed 32, by a spring 43 secured to the arm 36 in any suitable manner, as by a screw 44. In the inactive position shown in Fig. 3, balls 4| coact with detents or recessed portions 45 in the topping point bed, Figs. 4 and 5, and in active position the balls 4| coact with detent portions 46 of the bed. Stop means are provided for limiting the travelof the pivoted arms when moved to their active position, this means preferably, altho not necessarily, comprising protuberances or studs 41 secured to the topping point bed and adapted to coact with recessed portions 48 in the arms 36.

Fig. 8 shows one knitting section of a legger machine, comprising a needle bar 5|, a bank of needles 52 secured by clamping member 53 to the needle bar, and a sinker head assembly 54 comprising sinkers 56 and dividers 51 and verge plate 58. Positioned adjacent to the knitting needles are two horizontally disposed machine elements 62 and 63, shown in the present instance as the bridges used for supporting the welt bar preliminary to the welt turning operation. These bridges provide smooth plane surfaces on which the guiding and supporting means 38 of the transfer bar rest during the topping-on operation.

Figs. 9 to 13 illustrate various steps insequence during the topping-on operation. In Fig. 9 the transfer bar is shown with the guiding and supporting member 38 at one end thereof resting on the bridge 62, it being understood that the other member 38 rests on and coacts with bridge 63 in like manner. With the fabric 1 on the transfer or topping points 33, the topping points are substantially parallel to the knitting needles 52 due to the angle of the surface 38b of members 38. At this time needle bar 5| has been laid out, in a manner well known in the art, to a position such that the needles are adjacent to the ends of the knockover bits 64.

The transfer bar is now manually rotated, usually by the knitting machine operator', to the position shown in Fig. 10, so that it rests on one edge of the surface 38?), at which time the ends of the points 33 have entered the grooves of The needles are now manually moved, toward the presser edge 60, to knitting position, thus causing the needles and points to assume the position shown in Fig. 11, at which time the transfer bar is permitted again to rest.

on the plane surfaces 381), of members 38.

The machine is now turned, usually by hand, until the needles rise and enter the loops on the topping points, at which time the points and needles abut the presser edge, as shown in Fig. 12. The continued. rise of the needles causes the same to come up under the transfer bar 1 In many instances it may be found unnecessaryto utilize the surfaces 38a of the members 38 as means for aligning the topping points relative to the knitting needles in a coursewise direction; also, the shape or size of the members 38, or the contour of their surfaces 38b, may be changed to coact with machine elements other than the bridges of the knitting machine, or for any other purpose.

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with the transfer of fabric from a topping machine, it can also be used for various other purposes requiring alignment of a point bar with the needles of a knitting machine, as, for example, topping-on separately formed welts, or in the turning of welts on a knitting machine.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, for use machine elements adjacent to the needles thereof,

I comprising a bar, a series of points on the bar for engagement with said needles and guide means for coaction with said machine elements to align said points with the needles while placing fabric thereon, said guide means being movable on the bar.

2. A topping device, for use with a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the needles thereof, comprising a series of topping points for engagement with said needles and gauge means for coaction with said machine elements for maintaining a predetermined elevation of said points relative to the needles during the topping-on operation.

3. A topping device, for use with a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the needles thereof, comprising a series of topping points'for engagement with said needles and means for coaction with said machine elements to align said points with the needles and to maintain a predetermined elevation of the points relative to the needles during the topping-on operation.

4. A topping device, for use with a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the needles thereof, comprising a series of topping points for engagement with said needles and means for coaction with said machine elements for supporting the device and the topping points thereof at a predetermined elevation relative to the needles during the topping-on operation.-

5. A topping device, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the knitting needles thereof, said device including a series of topping points for engagement with the needles of the topping and knitting machines, and having movably mounted means operable in one position to engage said machine elements for supporting the device and the topping points thereof at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, said means being manually movable to another position when the device is inserted in the topping machine.

6. A; topping device, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the knitting needles thereof,

mounted means operable in one position to engage said machine elements for supporting the device and the topping points thereof at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, said means being manu ally turnable to another position when the device is inserted in the topping machine.

7. A topping device, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having certain machine elements adjacent to the knitting needles thereof, said device including a series of topping points for engagement with the needles of the topping and knitting machines, and having movably mounted means operable in one position to engage said machine elements for supporting the device and the topping points thereof at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, said means being manually movable to another position when the device is inserted in the topping machine, and means for retaining said means in either of said positions. l

8. A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed having a series of topping points mounted therein and abutments for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the toppingon operation.

10. .A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed havinga series of topping points mounted therein, pivotally mounted members adjacent to the ends of the bar and rotatable to active and inactive positions, and abutments carried by said pivotally' mounted members operative in said active position for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar. at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the toppingon operation.

11. A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposedmachine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed having a series of topping points mounted therein, a plurality of members each manually movable to active and inactive positions, resilient means for retaining said members in either of said positions, said members having means operative in said active position for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation.

12. A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed having a series of topping chine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposedmachine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar compris- 'ing a topping point bed having a series of topping points mounted therein, a plurality of members each manually movable to active and inactive positions, resilient means for retaining said members in either of said positions, said members having means operative in said active position for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, and stop means for limiting the travel of the members when moved to said active position.

14. A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed having a series of topping points mounted therein and abutments for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, the supporting surfaces of said abutments being so arranged that when they are placed on said machine elements the topping points will be substantially parallel to the knitting needles, the supporting surfaces enabling the transfer bar to be rocked into a position such that the points enter the needle grooves while the bar is maintained at the required elevation.

15. A transfer bar, for use with a topping machine having topping needles and a straight knitting machine having horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed having a series of topping points mounted therein and abutments for engagement with said machine elements to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, the supporting surfaces of said abutments lying in a plane disposed at an angle relative to the plane of the series of points .such that when the supporting surfaces are placed on said machine elements the topping points will be substantially parallel to the knitting needles, the edges of the supporting surfaces enabling the transfer bar to be rocked into a position such that the points enter the needle grooves while the bar is maintained at therequired elevation.

16. A transfer bar, for use with a legger knitting machine having welt-bar supporting bridges adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed, a clamp member detachably secured to the bed,

topping points mounted in said bed and. secured thereto by said clamp member, two arms pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends, respectively, of said bed and manually rotatable to active and inactive positions, abutments at the ends of said arms and operative in said active position for engagement with said bridges to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, and protuberances on said bed for engagement with said arms to limit the travel thereof when moved to said active position.

1'7; A transfer bar, for use with a legger knitting machine having welt-bar supporting bridges adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed, a clamp member detachably secured to the bed, topping points mounted in said bed and secured thereto by said clamp member, two arms pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends, respectively, of said bed and manually rotatable to active and inactive positions, spring pressed detent means carried by said arms and coacting with the bed to retain the arms either in active or inactive position, abutments at the ends of said arms and operative in said active position for engagement with said bridges to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, and protuberances on said bed for engagement with said arms to limit the travel thereof when moved to said active position.

18. A transfer bar, for use with a legger knitting machine having welt-bar supporting bridges adjacent to the needles of each knitting section thereof, said bar comprising a topping point bed, a clamp member detachably secured to the bed, topping points mounted in said bed and secured thereto by said clamp member, two arms pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends, re-,

spectively, of said bed and manually rotatable to active and inactive positions, detent balls carried by said arms and coacting with detent surfaces on said bed to position and retain the arms either in active or inactive position, abutments at the ends of said arms and operative in said active position for engagement with said bridges to support the transfer bar at a predetermined elevation relative to the knitting needles during the topping-on operation, said arms havingv apertured portions, and studs projecting from said bed for engagement with the apertured portions of the arms to limit the travel thereof when moved to said active position.

19. A guide device adapted to be secured to a point bar, said device comprising movable guide means to occupy one position relative thereto for aligning the point bar relative to the needles of a straight knitting machine while placing fabric thereon and another position when receiving the .fabric'for so placing it.

20. A guide device adapted to be secured to a point bar, said device comprising a guide member having an inclined contact surface foren- "gagement with horizontally disposed machine elements adjacent to the needles of anstraight knitting machine and adapted to incline the points of the point bar at an angle such that they are substantially parallel with said needles.

21. A guide device adapted to be secured to a point bar, said device comprising a guide member for aligning the point bar relative to the needles of a straight knitting machine while placing fabric thereon, a support for said guide member, and means for mounting said support on said point bar for movement between different positions thereon in difierent operative positions thereof.

22. A guide device adapted to be secured to a point bar, said device comprising a guide member for aligning the point bar relative to the needles of a straight knitting machine while placing fabric thereon, a support for said guide member, means whereby said support is adapted to be movably mounted 'on said point bar, and means for maintaining the guide member in a plurality of positions on the point bar.

OTTO F. SMETANA. 

